Question

When do we get maximum energy from a set of capacitors?

(a) When they are connected in parallel

(b) When they are connected in series

(c) Both in series and parallel

(d) Insufficient information provided

The question was asked in an online quiz.

I would like to ask this question from Energy Stored in a Charged Capacitor in chapter Capacitance and Capacitors of Basic Electrical Engineering

Answer 1

The correct choice is (a) When they are connected in parallel

Explanation: We get maximum energy when capacitors are connected in parallel because the equivalent capacitance is larger than the largest individual capacitance when connected in parallel. The relation between capacitance and energy is:

Energy=CV^2/2, hence as the capacitance increases, the energy stored in it also increases.